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six packets of seeds from the collection each year, and a couple of years ago achocha caught my eye. This unusual rampant climber, with the Latin name of Cyclanthera pedata, is unlike anything I've ever grown.Sown in 7cm pots of compost in my warm

in the back of my car overnight; the plant was young and had only a single flower but the scent in the car was almost unbearable. Like being dipped in vanilla. Another corker is winter-flowering honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima. Not a climber but a medium

or so semi-bonsai topiary trees. Many are sculpted into bobble 'cloud' shapes or manicured to form miniature hedges and climbers around the intricate buildings. They really make the place a magical world and produce a series of spectacular vistas

. This is a very vigorous climber, better known as Russian vine or mile-a-minute. Only the very brave will plant this in a small garden as, although it's undoubtedly attractive and flowers for a long time, it has an unquenchable curiosity. Many years ago I

, endlessly flowery) and Nicotiana sylvestris, which looks slightly spectral and smells delicious in the evenings. The third is the irrepressible Nigella that seeds itself in the gravel under my pergola.The other two are climbers. The first is Ipomoea purpurea

budget, and you can fill borders to overflowing with a selection of hardy annuals like sunflowers, calendula, poppy, love-in-a-mist, larkspur, poached egg flowers, lavatera, alyssum, cornflower, night scented stock, and climbers like nasturtium

, and eventually grew too large.Let's be fair. All plants grow, and many trees, shrubs, perennials and climbers can grow too tall or wide for their site, so this isn't just a 'problem' with conifers.As always when choosing plants, do your homework, get advice from

, snails and froghoppers - and, of course, I watched the plants grow. I'm trying to cover the walls and fence with climbers, and seeing these scramble over new territory has been a delight. I wonder how much they'll grow in 2011.Many of my plants came from

in and around the logs, adding to the interest. You can even plant a climber or rambler to grow over the wood.The best location for a woodpile or stumpery is in partial shade, where the wood will remain moist and therefore support more life – including

in reducing air temperatures during summer and insulating them during winter.I've always been cautious about recommending planting climbers like ivy against buildings, although I enjoy the sight when others do it. Provided walls are sound and ivy is kept clear